Fishing-rod.



Patented Dec. I2, I899.

H. W. MARTIN.

FISHING ROD.

IApplcation led Jan. 9, 1899.)

(No Model.)

IINiTnn ST'aTns BaTnNT @Trina HERMAN W'. MARTIN, OF ILION, NEV YORK.

FISHBNG=ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,733, dated December 12, 1899. Application tiled January 9, 1899. Serial No. 701.628. (Ilo model.)

To @ZZ whom it 'ntf/.gj concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN W. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fishing- Rods; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in fishing-rods of that class or style known as split-bamboo rods.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of such a rod which shall be composed entirely of clearenamel, whereby the penetration of water due to the loosening of one section or member of the rod will not deleteriously affect the other inner portions.

Another object is to provide a construction by which a rod of suitable length for practical fly-casting can be produced and not exceed tive ounces in weight.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a section of fishing-rod constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Figs. 3 to 6 illustrate the pieces or members of which the rod-section is composed and the manner of building up the rod. Figs. and 8 illustratel a line-guide for the tip of a fishing-rod. Fig. O is a detail view of the ferrule.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings, referring to which- A designates what I will term the foundation-piece, since about it are arranged and to it are secured the other pieces or members of the section. As shown, this foundationpiece is a rectangular strip of wood preferably cut from the outer shell, coating, or enamel7 of the exterior of a bamboo rod. This outer shell or enamel of the bamboo, as is well known, is the only portion of that wood which is hard and waterproof. By reference to the drawings it will also be seen that this strip A, which, as aforesaid, is made or cut entirely from the clear enamel or hard shell of the bamboo, is of such width as to extend transversely entirely across the rod-section from points in one face or portion of the exterior surface thereof to points directly opposite.

To the [lat faces of the stripA are securely cemented or glued other strips B C, also formed from clear-enamel bamboo, said strips extending outwardly at right angles to the foundationstrip A and having their outer edges forming a part of the exterior surface of the rod. A

From the above description and the draw ings it will be seen that the strips A, B, and O are all arranged so that the strains exerted on the rod are received by the edges of said strips. The strips B C are arranged in line, so as to prevent any direct strain being directed against the fiat wide sides or faces of the center or foundation strip A.

The rightangled spaces formed between the strips A B C are lilled by any suitable number of filling-pieces D, also cut from the clear-enamel bamboo or similar material.

In the embodiment of myinvention herein illustrated two of these pieces D are arranged in each of said right-angled spaces, they being cemented or glued together and to the adjacent strips A, B, or C to hold them in proper position. It will be understood that the number and form of such filling pieces or strips will or may be varied according to the size and form in cross-section of the rod-section to be produced.

For the tip-sections of a rod, for example, the spaces between the strips A B and A C will be so small as to require, possibly, but a single illingstrip to each space, while for sections near the butt or base of a rod more than two of such pieces D may be required for each of said spaces.

It is to be understood that the sections of rod are to be connected by ferrulesmhich may be of any desired and suitable style, in the ordinary manner.

At E in Fig. l I have illustrated a ferrule which has a ring-guide F for the line attached thereto. As shown, this ring is secured to one of two tapering ears or projections that extend longitudinally of the ferrule and beyond the secured end thereof. These projections f are arranged to bear against the outer edges of the strips B O, and the ring F is engaged by a portion which is struck up from one of ICO said ears. The ferrule is secured on the rod by suitable winding G or by any other fastening means.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to construct rods of the general character of that herein from a series of strips of bamboo having the enamel surfaces thereof arranged at the outside of the rod; but in such earlier constructions as have come to my attention the strips were not constructed entirely from the enamel or shell of the bamboo, and therefore when one of the strips had from strain and use become slightly loosened the inner soft portion of the bamboo was exposed to the action of water and damaged. I am also aware that it has been proposed to construct a fishing-rod of a series of compound bamboo splints, on the faces which are free from enamel. This construction provides a rod with enamel at its center and outer surface; but my improvements will be seen to be markedly different therefrom. Such a construction as that above described does not provide a rod which will be impervious to water, as is attained by my present invention.

When, as necessarily results from use, two of the compound splints of such a rod as that above described become slightly separated, water is allowed to penetrate and deleteriously affect the soft enameled portions of such splints, and the usefulness of the rod is quickly destroyed. By myconstruetion it will be seen that this is impossible, as no water can penetrate the inner portions of any piece when one of the filling-strips becomes loosened, as all of such strips are formed entirely from the clear enamel.

Another important feature incident to my manner of constructing the rod is that it is built up from the center o utwardly, and therefore I can produce a much stronger and more durable rod than is possible when the strips of which it is composed are differently arranged.

I have also illustrated in the drawings a form of tip line-guide which I have devised to take the place of the expensive agate guide frequently employed. By reference to the figures of the drawings illustrating this feature of my invention it will be seen that at its outer end the tip G is expanded to form a bulb-like head II, provided with a central aperture that communicates with an opening 7L in one side of the head through which the line extends.

About the aperture or passage in the head H are arranged a series of small rolls or revoluble guides K, over which the line can freely run.

The metal of the head separating the rolls K is made convex both inwardly toward the central'opening in the head and also toward both sides to guide the line onto one or the other of the adjacent rolls K in case it should fall across said portion of the head.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a split-bamboo fishing-rod the combination of a foundation strip or piece of barnboo enamel extending continuously across the rod, transversely, other strips secured to opposite faces of said foundation-piece and extending radially of the rod to the outer surface thereof, and filling-strips arranged in the Spaces between the last-said strips and the foundation-piece, substantially as set forth.

2. In a split-bamboo fishing-rod, the combination of a series of strips formed of bamboo enamel arranged to extend radially of the rod and each having an edge in the exterior surface of the rod, and a series of filling-pieces arranged between said strips, substantially as set forth.

3. In a split-bamboo fishing-rod, the combination of a series of strips of bamboo enamel arranged edgewise to the circumference of the rod in cross-section, said strips being connected together at the center of the rod, and a series of filling-pieces arranged in the spaces formed between said strips and forming with the edges of said strips the outer surface of the rod, substantially as set forth.

4. In a split-bamboo fishin g-rod, the combination of a series of longitudinally-extending strips having their outer edges forming parts of the exterior surface of the rod, and a series of filling-pieces arranged between and connected to said strips, all of said strips and pieces being formed of bamboo enamel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a fishing-rod section, of a ferrule adapted to slip over one end of the rod-section and having at diametrically opposite points two reduced portions, f, that extend beyond the body of the ferrule, substantially as set forth.

6. The herein-described ferrule for a fishing-rod having a tubular body, one end of which is adapted to slip over and be secured to a section of the rod, said ferrule having at the end thus secured two reduced extensions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix lmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN IV. MARTIN.

IVitnesses:

JOHN VAN GUMSTER, Jr., RALPH W. GOUGH.

IOO

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